It was a Thursday evening.  The night my son and I would venture to the music store for his weekly drum lesson.  As we walked past the front desk, I saw two men conversing.  I didn’t think much of it at first. 

But then, one of the men stopped dead in his tracks, and we locked eyes for a brief moment. 

It wasn’t a friendly hello, a curious gaze, or even an interest in me at all, really.  I discerned that there was something different. 

Something more.

He froze, and didn’t move until we passed. 

I felt God say, “This is one who does not know me. And he is watching Jesus walk by.”

In that moment I had a deep sense of darkness vs. light.  That perhaps this one had ventured into spiritual places where I would dare not go. 

And I had a deep awe come over me that, if this were true, I was seeing the power of Jesus on display.  And that this power had nothing to do with me.  It was there simply because the Holy Spirit lives in me. 

The Holy Spirit lives in all of us who claim Jesus Christ as Lord.

I grieve for the spiritual condition of this man and for the scores of others who venture toward the darkness of this world.   Many are caught in this world’s clutches.

But those of us who love the Father are called to live in the light.

Colossians 1:13-14 says this:

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Jesus has come to our rescue.   

But with that rescue also comes an adversary.  One who fights against us.

He is the one who inhabits the kingdom of darkness, and he is doing everything within his power to weaken those of us who belong to the kingdom of light.

This enemy loves to find our vulnerable places and beat us in our sore spots. 

He loves to tell us that we are weak, that we don’t have it within us to fight the battle.  That he will win and we will lose. 

But this could not be further from the truth.  Because we are on the winning side.

He is no match for our King.  And if the Devil cannot defeat our King, then he cannot defeat us. 

So when you find yourself feeling battle-worn and weary, do this:

1. Ask God to show you if the obstacle you are facing is actually the Devil beating you down.
2. Remind yourself that God is bigger than he. 
3. Start fighting back. 

How do you do that?  You pick up your sword.

Ephesians 6:17 tells us:

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Reading the Bible daily is key, because that’s how you put the sword in your hand. 

Proclaiming scripture is how you knock the Devil off his feet and put him back where he belongs. 

Because a Bible-reading, sword-wielding believer is one the enemy fears.

It doesn’t take years of knowing Jesus to be powerful in him.  And it doesn’t take a seminary degree to wield a sword effectively. 

It takes only a steadfast faith and a belief that YOU CAN.

Because you CAN.

Find a scripture, and each time you feel the Devil beating you down, turn around and beat him back.

All that is required is to simply speak the Word of God, boldly and confidently.

You can use scriptures such as these:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

And just as Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan,” so can you. 

It doesn’t really matter which scripture you use.  Because the Word of God will always accomplish what He sent it to do (Isaiah 55:11).

Remember 1 Corinthians 10:4:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

There is nothing you cannot accomplish with the sword in your hand.

So, my friend, don’t be discouraged, afraid, or intimidated, and don’t listen to that liar any longer. 

Remember that you have been rescued. 

Jesus has pulled you out of the darkness, and Satan cannot cover you with it. 

It’s a good thing to remind both yourself and the Devil of that.

Above all, don’t let the enemy win.

Remember, the real winner lives within you.  You have all the tools you need.  And you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

So next time the Devil beats you down…

Pick up your sword, swing it hard, and beat him back.